Mini Moon Garden

Last Monday the local garden club hosted an open house.

One of the speakers was an expert on mini conifers.

Now those don't really interest me all that much ,

but part of his talk was on making hypetufa troughs,

which is what they plant mini garden in .

The speaker always uses mini conifers in his troughs.

He was quite the purest when it came to trough gardens.

I am not.

I don't think he would approve of mine.

But  I love the way it turned out.

I didn't make this container

( although , I do plan to give it a go , so stay tuned for a hypertufa post )

this one was given to me by a friend.

  Her daughter had made them as a 4H project.

I bet I've had it for at least 10 years.

It was made using the same basic method ,

probably a different "recipe" and

she used a rhubarb leaf to made the pattern .

Cool huh?

Over the years , I've used it as a bird bath , a bird feeder , or

just as an ornament.

I decided it was time to put it to use.

Plus after hearing the speaker I was dying to give it a try.

First I filled the bottom 3 inches ( approximately) with chicken grit,

I then filled it with a light weight potting mix.

Then the fun part...

planting.

The idea with these trough gardens is that it is actually a MINI garden.

So you arrange the plants as if you are landscaping a full sized garden.

Complete with ornaments, paths , arbors , etc.

This container was in my Moon Garden so of course it had to be a Mini Moon Garden !

I don't know if I've mentioned it before ,

but I have a slight obsession with Hostas.

Especially miniature Hostas.

The only problem with miniature Hostas is they have a tendency to get lost in the border cause they are just THAT small !

I thought mini gardens would be a great way to showcase my little lovelies.

I added a mini pine and a VERY small leafed mint.

The Hostas won't get much taller , but they will eventually get bigger around.

I anticipate the mint will spread, I really hope it does.

I'm really hoping it spreads in like grass.

Time will tell...

Then I added this little arbor and garden bench.

And the icing on the cake ( I think ) ...

The gazing ball!

I've got a couple more mini garden plans floating around in my brain.

I'll share them eventually.

The weather must straighten out first.

Do you like them ?

Has anyone else planted one ?

Are you tired of my Moon Garden yet ?

I hope not, cause I've got another update post coming soon.

I think I'm in love....

Linking to some or all of thse great Parties :

More the Merrier Monday@DIY Home Sweet Home http://diyhshp.blogspot.com/
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Meet Me Monday @ You're Talking Too Much http://youaretalkingtoomuch.blogspot.com/
Amaze Me Monday @ DittleDattle http://dittledattle.blogspot.com/
What's in the GunnySack@The Gunny Sack http://www.thegunnysack.com/
Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/
Make the Scene Monday @ Alderberry Hill http://alderberryhill.blogspot.com/
Make it Yourself Monday @ An Original Belle http://anoriginalbelle.blogspot.com/
Show Me What You Got Linky Party @ Our Delightful Home http://www.ourdelightfulhome.blogspot.com/
Party Time Tuesday @ Northern Cottage http://www.northerncottage.net/
Trash to Treasure Tuesday @ Sassy Sites http://sassysites.blogspot.com/
Cowgirl Up Creative Linky Party @ The FarmhousPorch http://farmhouseporch.blogspot.com
Show Off Your Stuff @ Fireflies and Jellybeans http://firefliesandjellybeans.blogspot.com/
Primp Your Stuff Wednesday @ Primp http://micheleravendesigns.blogspot.com/
Your Whims Wednesday @ My Girlish Whims http://www.mygirlishwhims.blogspot.com/
Good Life Wednesday @ A Beach Cottage http://www.abeachcottage.com/
Rock & Share @ The Shady Porch(a pinterest party)http://theshadyporch.blogspot.com/
Tablescape Thrursday@ Beteen Naps on the Porch http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/
Thursdays are Your Days @ 52 Mantles http://www.52mantels.com/
Show and Tell Friday@ My Romantic Home http://romantichome.blogspot.com/
Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/
Inspiration Friday@ At the Picket Fence http://www.atthepicketfence.com/
Pinning and Singing on the Weekend@ 5 Minutes Just for Me http://5minutesjustforme.blogspot.com
Potpourri Friday @ 2805 http://twenty-eight-0-five.blogspot.com/
Fabulous Friday @ Faith,Trust and Pixie Dust http://michellelunt.blogspot.com/
Weekend Bloggy Reading : Link Up @ Serenity Now http://www.serenitynowblog.com/
Fridays Unfolded @ Stuff and Nonsense http://www.stuff-and-nonsense.net/
Shine on Friday @ Happy-Go-Lucky http://happy-go-lucky-harvey.blogspot.com/
Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/
A Pinteresting Link Party @ Here's to Handy Andy http://herestohandyandy.blogspot.com/
Tutu's and Teaparties : A Pinteresting Party @ http://tutusandteaparties.blogspot.com/